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Learning That Sticks

  • How can I spark my students’ interest and motivate them to learn more?

  • How can I help all of my students better remember new content and concepts?

  • How can I help them make sense of their learning and apply it to new contexts?

These are common questions, or “problems of practice,” for many teachers, from new hires to veterans.
To support teachers in solving these questions, McREL’s Learning That Sticks instructional model gives teachers key insights from neuroscience on how students’ brains receive new information, store it as memories, and then recall and apply it in the future. We combine this knowledge with proven practices from the science of learning in a unique and practical six-phase model that can help every teacher plan and deliver their lessons in a way that maximizes student interest and deep, authentic learning.

Learning That Sticks book cover

McREL's instructional model for student learning

Chances are, you already have a pretty good set of teaching strategies to help you connect with your students—especially if you’re familiar with our Classroom Instruction That Works® and Curiosity Works® programs. Now, you have a way to align these strategies with the science of learning. The breakthroughs that made Learning That Sticks possible can help any teacher guide student learning with more precision and effectiveness.

Our PD includes practical strategies, techniques, and tools for each of the six phases. We show educators how to craft, sequence, and present their lessons in a way that best aligns with what’s happening inside their students’ minds as they’re absorbing and applying new content.

McREL can assist your school or district to incorporate this learning model into instructional practice with our Learning That Sticks professional learning programs. Contact us today to learn about our flexible, customizable professional development and coaching, which our staff of former educators can deliver to your team at your location or online.
We also offer self-paced online professional development courses for teachers who want to do a deeper dive into the science of learning.

800.858.6830 | info@mcrel.org

Incorporating a learning model into instructional practice

Our PD includes practical strategies, techniques, and tools for each of the six phases:

  1. Become interested in learning: How can you spark curiosity?

  2. Commit to learning: How can you encourage students to fully engage in and commit to learning?

  3. Focus on new knowledge: How could students learn new information and connect to their prior learning?

  4. Make sense of learning: How can students process new learning to understand?

  5. Practice and reflect on learning: How can students deliberately reflect on learning as part of purposeful practice?

  6. Extend and apply: How can students extend their learning and apply it to new and interesting tasks?

We show educators how to craft, sequence, and present their lessons in a way that best aligns with what’s happening inside their students’ minds as they’re absorbing and applying new content. Based on the science of learning, this approach encourages teachers to become more intentional in their practice―considering not only what works, but why it works. By understanding the underlying principles of learning, teachers and instructional leaders can integrate all classroom instruction into a single approach.

Aligned with The New Classroom Instruction That Works

Learning That Sticks is aligned with the 14 strategies for best first instruction listed in The New Classroom Instruction That Works. Promote authentic classroom experiences with specific instructional guidance that teachers can use at every learning stage.

To support your teachers’ capacity to deliver Learning That Sticks:

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